From China to Europe via Karaganda: new refueling complex to be built at Sary-Arka Airport

A refueling complex will be built at Sary-Arka Airport.

This facility will become an important link in the development of aviation and logistics links between Karaganda and Chinese Urumqi, as well as expand the transit opportunities of the region.

The first flight of the C909 aircraft from Urumqi, which arrived with a Chinese delegation, also became a landmark event in the history of the Karaganda region.

Akim of Karaganda region Ermaganbet Bulekpayev stressed at the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the refueling complex that the new complex and the opened air route will strengthen the transit potential of the region and create new economic opportunities.

– The President has set the task of developing the airport. Taking into account the potential of our air harbor, we have begun active work on the transformation of the airport into a continental multimodal air hub. Moreover, the airport is already capable of handling up to 50,000 tons of cargo per year, and in the next four years this figure will grow to 200,000," said the head of the region. – Combined with the expanding potential of ports in the Caspian Sea, Karaganda is becoming an important link in international logistics from China to Europe.

To implement the project, a joint venture, Silkway Aviation Airport Development (Silu Hangkong), was established by Chinese companies and Kazakh ASG (Timur Turlov, Yerlan Ospanov and Ruslan Gabbasov).

The construction will be carried out in three stages: first, technological equipment will be installed, then a reservoir for 2,000 cubic meters and a service unit will be built, and by 2027, storage volumes will be increased to 4,000 cubic meters. The project is being implemented in partnership with Petro China according to European quality and safety standards. And it opens up new logistical and investment horizons for the whole of Central Asia.

For the first time, a C909 plane from Urumqi with a Chinese delegation arrived in Karaganda. This flight, organized with the support of the Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan, symbolizes the beginning of a new stage of cooperation in the aviation industry.

– Based on a new stage of political cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the energy sector, PetroChina International (Kazakhstan) Ltd. As the main participant in the project to supply aviation fuel to Karaganda Airport, I am ready to supply high-quality Jet A–1 aviation fuel, contributing to the development of Kazakhstan's air transport infrastructure," said Geng Jian, CEO of Petro China International Kazakhstan Ltd.

The parties also signed agreements on the supply of Jet A-1 jet fuel, the development of flights between cities and the coordination of cargo flows. The Silkway Aviation Airport Development joint venture will not only supply fuel, but also organize multimodal cargo transportation from China to Europe via Kazakhstan.

"The construction of the refueling complex and the upcoming implementation of the bilateral agreements signed today will strengthen economic ties between the two countries, contribute to the development of transport and logistics infrastructure within the framework of the global One Belt One Road initiative and will be an important contribution to ensuring the expansion of transit routes and improving the efficiency of cargo transportation," said Yerlan Ospanov, founder of JET FUEL SERVICE.